Frenchville resident and Voice of the People radio host Dan Smeriglio calls himself “an activist first,” so he was ready to record when Maine State Republican Party Chairman Jim Deyermond called him for a friendly chat about primary challenge to U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R).
On Friday, Smeriglio, 42, filed with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) as a GOP candidate to challenge long-time incumbent.
Smeriglio, who moved to the Aroostook County town in 2023, posted a partial recording of their conversation on X:
In the conversation, Deyermond says he is “not trying to talk you out of doing anything, I just want to give you the facts … in order to win, you have to raise an awful lot of money to be a serious candidate … and if you’re not a serious candidate, there are things that have to be examined here.”
Smeriglio responds by “calling a spade a spade,” and goes on to make an unpleasant characterization of the senior senator.
Deyermond, who was elected party chairman only last month, responds “believe me, I wish she would do more (to support President Donald Trump), but she’s doing what she has to do to get elected … for me, it’s just a math problem.”
Because Smeriglio only posts partial clips of the conversation, it is difficult to discern its full content or context. At the outset of the clip, it sounds as if Deyermond is responding to a request for advice from the newly filed primary challenger, and he tells Smeriglio that he has talked to at least a few other individuals who were considering launching their own challenges but changed their minds after the math-based conversations.
In addition to the issue of money, Deyermond pointed out that Democrats enjoy the advantage of numbers in Maine, which appears to rationalize why Senator Collins has been more reticent about supporting Trump than others in her caucus.
Deyermond told The Maine Wire that he was in fact responding to Smeriglio’s request for guidance, which is part of his responsibility as state party chairman. His role, he explained, is to prepare for any logistical needs that could arise at the state party convention and to be available for all party members.
Collins picked up another challenger last week, but an independent as opposed to a Republican.
Former SpaceX senior engineer Phillip Rench, 37, who currently owns a farm in Waterboro, announced his candidacy, fueling speculation about whether his one-time boss Elon Musk had any role in encouraging him to do so.
Collins currently chairs the Senate’s powerful Committee on Appropriations.
The last time Collins faced a GOP primary opponent was in her first election in 1996, when she defeated John Hathaway and Bob Monks for the Republican Senate nomination.
We all know that no one is going to beat Collins, but she won’t be getting my vote, either someone who primaries her, or i’ll vote for a democrat for the first time in my adult life, by voting for a democrat, at least I know what I voted for!
dont let some swamp creature “expert” talk u out of it! this is how the uni-party cheats us all folks! no one is elected they are selected! at the canadite level…
and also im sure i speak for many when i say i will never vote for susan collins again, i will vote in the primary as un registered voter for any republican besides her! voted for her simce the early 2000’s too
I don’t think Susan Collins will be running next year. DOGE will be our best ally. According to Google, she is worth about $40 million dollars. Between Dec 2023 – Dec 2024, she increased her stock portfolio by 77.5%. How does that happen in one year’s time? She even beat Nancy Pelosi! I would look for a well known Republican within the state to vote for! Whatever happened to Sean Moody?
I’m sorry but Nine and a half out of ten people can’t pronounce this guys name .
“ Smegla what ? “
He doesn’t stand a snowballs chance .
Just another name the democrats can USE for their ranked choice scam .
Please don’t waste our time .
Well, I guess I am now going to vote for the MAGA candidate. Deyermond’s conversation just rubs me the wrong way. Not like anyone in Maine north of Cumberland County really likes Susan that much anyway, she acts like a Democrat Independent, but she has been the lesser of two evils for voting options.
However, Anus King is just a flat out Oath Breaker and commits treasonous acts against the United States of America and We The People. He claims to be an independent but behaves like a true socialist – communist.
Deyermond made a very bad impression.. Keep an eye on that guy..
Deyermond is a fucking liar. ““not trying to talk you out of doing anything” BULL SHIT!
This may be the straw that broke the camel’s back. Registered Republican for 44 years. Thinking seriously of becoming unenrolled. If Collins and Deyermond is the face of my party, not sure I want to be associated with them. Never had much use for unenrolled or independents. Many like Anus King just don’t have the guts to come out and admit what they are. Maybe time for a big plate of crow.
Robert “ Bobby “ Charles is a TRUE Republican who can BEAT Collins in the primary .
That is a fact .
Simple. No (R)(D) or (I). Constitutional Party. (C)